Painting
Archive IndexBejewelled Woman
Horace van Ruith
1839 – 1923
- Circa 1884
Probably of Russian origin, Horace van Ruith was born in Capri. A professional
painter who specialized in portraiture, landscapes & genre scenes in oil
and watercolour. Although subsequently based in England he spent several years
working in Italy. He visited Bombay sometime between 1879 & 1884 &
is known to have established a studio in the city. He painted a number of
works portraying local people, especially those in various trades –
coolies at work, a cotton cleaner, a cord maker and street musicians. On his
return to London he took part in the Colonial & Indian Exhibition opened
by Queen Victoria in 1886, when he showed a number of similar subjects. It
also included the panoramic view from Malabar Hill across Back Bay. Her son
the Duke of Connaught noted of him in a letter to the Queen that “ no
man understands the peculiar characteristics of Indian life better than he
does & he is a very clever artist.”
After this he exhibited regularly in England including the royal academy exhibitions in London, where he showed “Money Changer, Bombay” in 1900. He almost certainly visited India again, probably around 1900, for he also worked in Baroda at the invitation of the Gaekwad. Despite his long life & obviously considerable output his pictures are rare today.
This biographical note was taken from Bombay to Mumbai published by Marg
Publications 1997